Drinking Container Lid Fastener

ABSTRACT

A lid fastener for a drinking container comprised of a strap that connects to a belt, band or cylindrical sleeve. The fastener may be fabricated by use of measured cardboard strap that connects to a belt or cylindrical sleeve made of any material of sufficient diameter to fit fast-food, coffee, or other drinking containers produced, which is wrapped around the drinking container. The measured strap connects to the side of a belt, band or cylindrical sleeve at each end by a closed fold that passes through a slot in the belt providing an anchoring effect and allowing the strap to be slid along the slot in the belt allowing the strap to be slid along the belt in operation of the invention.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation in part of a Non-ProvisionalApplication entitled “Drinking Container Lid Fastener” application Ser.No. 12/437,289, filed on May 7, 2009 which claims the benefit of thefiling date of a Provisional Application entitled, “An elastic drink lidfastener that prevents the spillage of hot and cold fluids” Ser. No.61/051,301, filed May 7, 2008, assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication, and herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present claimed subject matter relates to a lid fastener or harness,which when used in combination with a drinking container and lidprevents spillage of hot and cold fluids.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present claimed subject matter relates to a lid fastener or harness,which when used in combination with a drinking container and lidprevents spillage of hot and cold fluids.

Drinking containers with lids have been in use for a very long time. Thedrinking container and lid combination provides various functionsincluding the retention of fluids in the drinking containers.

A common manner for commercial enterprises to serve hot or cold fluid tocustomers is with a disposable drinking container, which often has adisposable lid covering the container in which the fluid is beingserved. This is often done in fast food restaurants and coffee shops,which serve beverages over the counter, where the beverage may be takenoff the premises. Drinking containers with lids are also used whereestablishments have drive-through windows where the car is driven to aservice window, and the beverage is served through the window. Onepurpose of the combination of a lid and drinking container is to preventthe contents of the drinking container from spilling. When the drinkingcontainer is being handled or passed from one person to another, or isplaced in a cup holder in a car, or is placed in a static position on aflat surface, movement of the drinking container can cause the drinkingcontainer to tip over or drop causing the lid to come off resulting insignificant spillage.

Such container and lid combinations have numerous drawbacks in that theuse of a lid which caps such containers is not alone effective inpreventing the fluid from spilling and being entirely or almost entirelydispensed from the container during use, particularly if the containertips over, drops or is otherwise upset. There is a need in the marketplace for a mechanism to anchor a lid to a drinking container to preventthe lid from coming off when the drinking container is tipped over ordropped or otherwise moved.

A search of the patent literature has revealed a number of patentsrelating to configurations of closed containers that reduce spillage orprevent objects from entering the container.

Various types of structures or containers have been disclosed. Theseinclude: U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,175, which is a container formed of afoldable sheet material that requires assembly, interconnection of flapsand a tongue-slot combination. U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,528 shows aself-locking, self-closing container using a spring-action pleated top.U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,306 shows a container having a sealing top formed bya series of crease lines folding inwardly and forming a series ofrectangles, each having a diagonal corner portion to form a closurepanel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,512 shows a container having an integral flatlid hinged to a cylindrical wall. The lid extends in a downward slopeand locks in a closed position between two ridges formed in oppositesides of the wall. The lid contains a plurality of openings therein sothat fluid contained in the container can pass through the closed lidalong with medication held on top of the lid. U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,002shows a reusable lid for a cup with a round flat cover plate that coversthe top of the cup to prevent objects from entering. The plate is heldin place by a torsion rod that is connected to the lid and side of thecup.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED SUBJECT MATTER

It is an object of the present claimed subject matter to keep a drinkingcontainer lid anchored or strapped to a drinking container even whentipped, knocked over or dropped. Another object of the present claimedsubject matter is to reduce or eliminate spillage of fluids fromdisposable or non-disposable drinking containers. A further object ofthe present claimed subject matter is to reduce or eliminate spillagefrom disposable or non-disposable drinking containers to prevent burnscaused by hot drinks. It is another object of the present claimedsubject matter to reduce or eliminate spillage from disposable ornon-disposable drinking containers to prevent floors from becomingdangerously slippery. Yet another object of the present claimed subjectmatter is to reduce or eliminate spillage from disposable ornon-disposable drinking containers to prevent staining of clothing,carpeting or upholstery. A further object of the present claimed subjectmatter is to reduce or eliminate spillage from disposable ornon-disposable drinking containers to prevent damage to computers,laptops or other electrical devices.

These and other objects are achieved by the elastic strap or measuredinelastic strap or straps, which is connected to a drinking container orbelt, band or cylindrical sleeve wrapped around the drinking container,that slips over the lid placing tension on the lid to ensure that itstays securely fastened to the drinking container, thus reducing orcompletely eliminating spillage of hot or cold fluid.

In certain embodiments the inner side of the belt and/or strap may becoated with wax or other impermeable material to prevent slippage and toreduce or prevent permeation by condensation when used with coldbeverages. The coating of the inner side of the belt and/or strap alsoaides the consumer in slipping the belt up the body of a drinkingcontainer and sliding the strap across the lid of the drinkingcontainer.

In an alternative embodiment, the strap is connected to the belt by aclosed fold at one end and an open fold that forms a loop around thebelt at the other and is constructed of paper or cardboard. The loopformed by the open fold end allows the strap to be slid along the beltwhen securing the strap over the lid of a beverage container. Such anembodiment may be constructed and assembled of two die-cut cardboardpieces or by one piece of cardboard cut into an “L” or “T” shape whichcan be adhered to itself in assembly. A similar embodiment connects thestrap to the belt by open loops at both ends and is constructed andassembled by two die-cut cardboard or paper pieces.

Additionally, one end of the strap may be manufactured to be unattachedto the belt and equipped with a peel-n-stick or consumer activatedadhesive and adhered to the strap after being pulled over the beveragecontainer lid in operation of the invention by the consumer. In thisembodiment, the connected end of the strap may be adhered to the belt ina closed fold or an open fold that forms a loop around the belt. In asimilar embodiment, the invention is constructed of one piece of “L” or“T” shaped cardboard and both the strap and belt remain unconnected andequipped with a peel-n-stick or consumer activated adhesive and areself-adhered by the consumer in operation of the invention.

The peel-n-stick embodiment may also be constructed to provide the userwith the ease of operation of the moving loop embodiment by attaching anadditional strip of cardboard to the outside of the belt at two gluepoints to create a slot. The strap then may be slid through the slot andadhered to itself by a peel-n-stick or consumer activated adhesiveforming a loop around the strip. The loop may then be moved along thestrip allowing the strap to be slid over the lid by the consumer inoperation of the invention.

The present claimed subject matter could be valuable to the individualconsumer who wants to prevent harmful damage to their person or theirproperty. The present claimed subject matter could also be valuable tocommercial enterprises that want to protect the consumer and avoidliability for burns and slips and falls that are caused by theirproducts.

As the Inventors have herein recognized, the prior art has numerousdrawbacks. Particularly, the prior art requires complete replacement ofcup and lid combinations commonly used in the marketplace whereas thepresent claimed subject matter does not. To overcome problems existingin the prior art disposable, containers, a simpler and more costeffective mechanism was sought to keep the contents of drinkingcontainers from dispensing from the container at an undesired time.

None of the above patents achieve what the claimed subject matterclaimed herein achieves, preventing the lid of a drinking container fromcoming off by anchoring a separable lid to the drinking container, thuseliminating or reducing spillage of the contents of the drinkingcontainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the claimed subject matter can be obtainedwhen the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments isconsidered in conjunction with the following Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled lid fastener showing theoperation of the strap in conjunction with a sleeve over the lid of adrinking container in accordance with one embodiment of the presentclaimed subject matter. The strap is adhered to the sleeve and is pulledover the lid providing tension to reduce spillage.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of the claimedsubject matter illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprised of an elastic strapattached to a sleeve or belt by an adhesive.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the claimedsubject matter illustrated in FIG. 1 and comprised of a cardboard strapattached to a narrow sleeve or belt by a closed fold end at adhesivepoints and an open fold end adhered to itself that forms a loop aroundthe belt. The strap can be moved along the belt in operation of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the open fold end of the strap in theclaimed subject matter illustrated in FIG. 3 and its connection to thebelt and formation of a loop for movement along the belt.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the closed fold end of the strap in theclaimed subject matter illustrated in FIG. 3 and its connection atadhesive points to the belt and itself. The closed fold end works toanchor the strap as the open fold end is slid along the belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

A lid fastener in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent claimed subject matter is shown in FIG. 1 in combination with abeverage container 1. Beverage container 1 is usually a tapered paper orplastic cup having an open rim and a closed end. Beverage container 1rim is closed by a lid 2. A sleeve 3 has a wider top open end 7 than itsbottom open end 6 and is slid up from the closed end of beveragecontainer 1 to conform to the tapered shape of the beverage container 1.Connected to the sleeve 3 is an elastic strap 4 at an adhesive point 5on opposite points on the sides of the sleeve 3.

In operation of the claimed subject matter, the user slides the elasticstrap 4 over the lid 2 by pulling it out from the adhesive points 5 andover the lid 2. Tension between the elastic strap 4 and the sleeve 3anchors the lid 2 to the beverage container 1.

A lid fastener in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent claimed subject matter is shown in FIG. 2 in a folded state. Thesleeve 3 with a wider top open end 7 than its bottom open end 6 connectsto an elastic strap 4 at an adhesive point 5 on both sides. The elasticstrap 4 wraps around the sleeve 3 when not in operation.

A lid fastener in accordance with an alternative embodiment of thepresent claimed subject matter is shown in FIG. 3 in side view. A narrowsleeve 3 constructed from cardboard with a wider top end 3 than itsbottom end 7 is adhered to itself at an adhesive point 9. A strap 8constructed from cardboard is connected to the narrow sleeve 3 at oneend by an open fold 10 adhered to itself at an adhesive point 11 thatforms a loop around the sleeve 3. The strap 8 is connected to the narrowsleeve 3 at the other end by a closed fold 12 by adhering to the sleeve3 at an adhesive point 14 and adhering to itself at an adhesive point13. The open fold 10 allows the cardboard strap 8 to be moved along thenarrow sleeve 3 in operation of the invention.

A close-up view of the open fold 10 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4. Theopen fold 10 of the strap 8 wraps around the narrow sleeve 3 and adheresto itself at an adhesive point 11 forming a loop that allows the strap 8to move along the sleeve 3 in operation of the invention.

A close-up view of the closed fold 12 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 5. Theclosed fold 12 wraps around the narrow sleeve 3 and adheres to itself atan adhesive point 13 and to the sleeve 3 at an adhesive point 14. Theclosed fold 12 allows the strap to be anchored at one end in operationof the invention.

While the claimed subject matter has been shown and described withreference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the claimed subject matter, including but not limited toadditional, less or modified elements.

1. A lid fastener, comprising: a belt that fits around a container suchthat the belt is configured to be placed onto the narrow end of thecontainer and to be slid along the drinking container such that the beltcomes to rest on the drinking container at a point on the containerwhere the internal diameter of the belt equals the external diameter ofthe container; and a strap, connected to the belt, configured to bepositioned over a lid of the container once the belt has come to rest onthe container.
 2. The lid fastener of claim 1, wherein the strap isconnected to the belt by an adhesive.
 3. The lid fastener of claim 1,the belt comprising two holes through which opposing ends of the strapare positioned and secured.
 4. The lid fastener of claim 1, wherein thestrap comprises elastic material.
 5. The lid fastener of claim 1,wherein the strap and belt are connected by manufacture as onecontinuous piece of material.
 6. The lid fastener of claim 1, whereinthe belt has an open top end that is larger than an open bottom end. 7.A lid fastener, comprising: a sleeve that fits around a container suchthat the sleeve is configured to be placed onto the narrow end of thecontainer and to be slid along the drink container such that the sleevecomes to rest on the drink container at a point on the container wherethe internal diameter of the sleeve equals the external diameter of thecontainer; and a strap, connected to the sleeve, configured to bepositioned over a lid of the container once the sleeve has come to reston the container.
 8. The lid fastener of claim 7, wherein the strapconnects to the sleeve by a group of connectors comprising: an adhesive;and hook.
 9. The lid fastener of claim 7, wherein the strap comprises anelastic strap.
 10. The lid fastener of claim 7, wherein the strapcomprises a measured inelastic fixed strap.
 11. The lid fastener ofclaim 7, wherein the strap and sleeve are connected by manufacture asone continuous piece of material.
 12. A lid fastener comprising: adrinking container; a sleeve configured to be positioned on the drinkingcontainer; and a strap, connected to the drinking container, configuredto be positioned over a lid of the drinking container.
 13. The lidfastener of claim 12, wherein the strap connects to the drinkingcontainer by a group of connectors comprising: an adhesive; and hook.14. The lid fastener of claim 12, wherein the strap comprises an elasticstrap.
 15. The lid fastener of claim 12, wherein the strap comprises ameasured inelastic fixed strap.
 16. A lid fastener, comprising: a beltthat fits around a container such that the belt is configured to beplaced onto the narrow end of the container and to be slid along thedrinking container such that the belt comes to rest on the drinkingcontainer at a point on the container where the internal diameter of thebelt equals the external diameter of the container; and a strap,connected and anchored to the belt by a closed fold at one end and anopen fold at the other end forming a loop around the belt, configured tobe positioned over a lid of the container once the belt has come to reston the container and the strap is slid along the belt utilizing the loopat the open fold.
 17. The lid fastener of claim 16, wherein the innerside of the belt and the inner side of the strap are coated with wax orother impermeable or semi-impermeable material.
 18. The lid fastener ofclaim 16, wherein the strap and belt are comprised from one continuous“L” shaped cut of cardboard or paper.
 19. The lid fastener of claim 16,wherein the strap and belt are comprised from one continuous “T” shapedcut of cardboard or paper.
 20. The lid fastener of claim 16, wherein thestrap is connected at each end by an open fold forming a loop around thebelt, configured to be positioned over a lid of the container once thebelt has come to rest on the container and the strap is slid along thebelt utilizing the loops at the open folds.
 21. A lid fastener,comprising: a belt that fits around a container such that the belt isconfigured to be placed onto the narrow end of the container and to beslid along the drinking container such that the belt comes to rest onthe drinking container at a point on the container where the internaldiameter of the belt equals the external diameter of the container; anda strap, connected and anchored to the belt by a closed fold at one endand unconnected at the other end with a consumer activated adhesive atthe unconnected end's inner side.
 22. The lid fastener of claim 21,wherein the inner side of the belt and the inner side of the strap arecoated with wax or other impermeable or semi-impermeable material. 23.The lid fastener of claim 21, wherein the strap and belt are comprisedfrom one continuous “L” shaped cut of cardboard or paper.
 24. The lidfastener of claim 21, wherein the strap and belt are comprised from onecontinuous “T” shaped cut of cardboard or paper.
 25. The lid fastener ofclaim 21, wherein the belt is unconnected at one end with a consumeractivated adhesive at the unconnected end's inner side.
 26. The lidfastener of claim 21, wherein the strap is unconnected at one end with aconsumer activated adhesive at the unconnected end's inner side; and thestrap is connected at one end with an open fold around the belt thatforms a moveable loop adhering to the inner side of the strap.
 27. Thelid fastener of claim 21, wherein the belt is unconnected at one endwith a peel and stick adhesive at the unconnected end's inner side. 28.The lid fastener of claim 21, wherein the strap is unconnected the beltat one end with a peel and stick adhesive at the unconnected end's innerside; and the strap is connected to the belt at one end with an openfold around the belt that forms a moveable loop adhering to the innerside of the strap.
 29. A lid fastener, comprising: a belt that fitsaround a container such that the belt is configured to be placed ontothe narrow end of the container and to be slid along the drinkingcontainer such that the belt comes to rest on the drinking container ata point on the container where the internal diameter of the belt equalsthe external diameter of the container; and a slot, cut along the beltat intervals along which the ends of a strap are threaded; and a strap,connected to the belt at each end by an open fold forming a loop througha slot in the belt, configured to be positioned over a lid of thecontainer once the belt has come to rest on the container and the strapis slid along the slot in the belt utilizing the loops at the openfolds.
 30. The lid fastener of claim 29, wherein the inner side of thebelt and the inner side of the strap are coated with wax or otherimpermeable or semi-impermeable material.
 31. The lid fastener of claim29, wherein the strap is unconnected at one end of the strap with a peeland stick adhesive at the unconnected end's outer side.
 32. The lidfastener of claim 29, wherein the belt is unconnected at one end with aconsumer activated adhesive at the unconnected end's inner side.
 33. Thelid fastener of claim 29, wherein the belt is unconnected at one endwith a peel and stick adhesive at the unconnected end's inner side.